James Vardiman “Jim” Owens

A memorial celebration for James Vardiman Owens will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church at 11:00 on April 15th. Jim died on March 7th at the Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living facility. He was 100 years old.

Jim Owens was born on November 4, 1915 to Sam and Effie Owens in Richland, a town 15 miles southwest of Lawrence that now lies beneath Clinton Lake. He spent most of his youth in Salina.

Jim received an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1937 and a master’s degree in business from the University of Iowa in 1939. While attending KU, James Naismith was his instructor for a health class, during Dr. Naismith’s final year of teaching.

It was also at KU that he met Laura Humphrey of Eskridge, and they were married in 1940 in Miami, Florida, where Jim worked for Pan American Airways. He continued his brief career with Pan Am in New York City, before moving to Lawrence in 1945, where he and Laura purchased and operated a florist business at 9th and Massachusetts and a greenhouse at 15th and New York. They eventually relocated Owens’ Flower Shop to its present location at 9th and Indiana. The couple sold the business in 1974. Laura Owens died in 2004, after 63 years of marriage.

During a very busy life, Jim served on numerous boards and commissions, and remains the only person to have served as mayor of Lawrence (1964-1965), president of the board of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce (1966-1967) and president of the Lawrence Board of Education (1968-1969). He also served on the Lawrence Recreation Commission (1960-1964) and on the Lawrence Human Relations Commission during some turbulent times in the mid to late 1960s. Jim was a member of the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Lawrence for 25 years, Deacon and Moderator at Plymouth Congregational Church, a Lawrence Sesquicentennial Committee member, fundraiser for the Lawrence Arts Center and was a long-time member of the Lawrence Rotary Club.

Jim received many honors during his lifetime, including the Kiwanis Club’s Certificate of Recognition, Sertoma’s Service to Mankind award, Baker University’s Service Award and the Citizen of the Years award from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Lawrence Rotary Club, and was inducted into the Lawrence Business Hall of Fame.

Jim loved to travel, and was fortunate to have been able to visit many parts of this country, and the world. He was a good listener, truly enjoying conversations with everyone he met. He embraced change, including technological change, and was always eager to learn something new. Jim Owens enjoyed life, and will be missed by many.

Jim is survived by two children: Martin (Kay) Owens of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and Laura (Bob) Schulte of Kansas City, Missouri. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Kelvin (Andrea) Owens of Springfield, Illinois; Angie (Brett) Gruetzmacher of Brookfield, Wisconsin; Abigail (Bryce) Crady of Westwood Hills, Kansas; Andrew (Meghan) Schulte of Washington, D.C.; Evan (Akiko) Schulte of Komatsu, Japan and seven great-grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, Justine.

The family wishes to express its true appreciation to the management and staff of Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living for the support and kindness they showed to Jim.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s name to the Lawrence Humane Society and the Alzheimer’s Association sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.